New report reveals the shocking conditions of work places

Unsafe and unsanitary working conditions are putting the health of millions of workers in serious danger, according to a new report.

Published:10:00Sunday 28 August 2016

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Unsafe and unsanitary working conditions are putting the health of millions of workers in serious danger, according to a new report.

Researchers carried out an in-depth study into the conditions of Britain’s offices, shops, factories, warehouses and building sites and discovered a staggering 69 per cent of British workers – 21.million of them – claim their workplace to be a health hazard.

The study revealed 35 per cent of working Brits have picked up an illness from their place of work with 18 per cent claiming to have been struck down with food poisoning or caught a stomach bug because of dirty conditions.

35 per cent of working Brits have picked up an illness from their place of work – with 18 percent claiming to have been struck down with food poisoning or caught a stomach bug because of dirty conditions.

A further 39 per cent have even suffered an injury at work with two in ten (20 per cent) Brits having been to hospital due to a work-related illness or injury.

Complaints to emerge from the study regarding the workplace include greasy and slippery floors (16 per cent), unhygienic work colleagues (13 per cent), unsanitary toilet facilities (11 per cent) and cluttered floors (10 per cent).

Dirty kitchens also pose a problem for 10 per cent of the nation’s workforce as do ripped carpets (nine per cent), broken chairs (eight per cent) and unsafe wiring (six per cent).

Almost half (46 per cent) of those polled have complained to their bosses about the state of their place of work, with a further 21 per cent saying their manager did nothing to rectify the situation.

The research was commissioned by personal injury solicitors Hayward Baker following the launch of its new interactive injury compensation calculator, which provides workers with an estimate of how much compensation they would be entitled to following an accident or injury.

A spokesperson for Hayward Baker, said: “Going to work could seriously damage your health if managers don’t take working conditions seriously enough.

“Our free to use injury compensation calculator gives British workers easy access to information which can really help them decide if they have a valid claim against their company.”

According to the research, just 16 percent of British workers sought legal advice after suffering an injury, with the average claim for compensation being £24,931.

29 percent of all accidents at work were considered ‘moderate’ injuries – such as broken bones or fractures – and serious enough for workers to make a claim against their employer.